VOLLEYBALL TEAM TO PLAY AT SIMMONS IN GNAC QUARTERFINALS

BOSTON, Mass. – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference has announced the 2012 Women's Volleyball Championship Bracket featuring eight teams, with tournament play scheduled to begin on Wednesday, October 31st.  Emmanuel College has secured the No. 5 seed in the tournament and will play at 4th-seeded Simmons College on Halloween.

Rivier University holds the No. 1 seed, led by senior outside hitter Kenna Finlayson (Derry, N.H.). Finlayson ranks first in the GNAC in kills with 444 winners, averaging a league-high 4.72 kills per set. The Raiders will play host to Lasell College who earned the No. 8 seed with a 6-6 GNAC mark.

Emerson College earns the No. 2 seed after posting a 10-2 GNAC mark. The Lions are led by sophomore middle blocker Kat Rice (Delmar, N.Y.) who leads the GNAC with a .359 attacking percentage while also averaging 3.18 kills per set. Emerson will take on the No. 7 seed, Mount Ida College who posted a 6-6 GNAC record. Senior outside hitter Jennifer Ferreira (Shirley, Mass.) leads the Mustangs while ranking second in the GNAC with 370 kills on the year.

Saint Joseph's (ME) captured the No. 3 seed thanks to a head-to-head 3-2 thriller over Simmons College on Oct. 13 as both squads finished with a 9-3 GNAC slate. Behind senior middle hitter Sarah Hawkes (Pownal, Maine), the Monks closed the regular season strong winning 10 of 12 matches. Earlier this year, Hawkes became just the fourth player in GNAC history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career. Saint Joseph's will host the No. 6 seed, Johnson & Wales University. The Wildcats bested the Monks head to head, 3-2, on Oct. 6 and are led by junior libero Giselle Cram-Ortiz (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico) who leads the GNAC in digs with 609 on the year.

The 4/5 matchup will be played between Fenway neighbors as Simmons College will host Emmanuel College. The Sharks finished at 9-3 in league action, while the Saints were 8-4. During the regular-season, Simmons topped EC 3-0 on October 23rd.

Winners of the GNAC Quaterfinals will meet in the Semifinals on Friday, November 2nd at the site of the higher seeds with the GNAC Finals set for Sunday, November 4th at the site of the highest remaining seed in the tourney.

View the complete 2012 GNAC Women's Volleyball Tournament Bracket.